Most
of us plan for the possible misfortunes of life, yet few of us prepare for
the inevitable.

Many individuals and families are making the decision to prearrange and
pre-fund their funerals before the need arises.

The advantages of funeral planning make sense.

Planning Your Funeral:

Provides a peace of mind.

Relieves your loved ones of unnecessary concern.

Assures that your wishes are known.

Eases the financial burden on your family

The Purpose Of A Funeral

A funeral service fills several important needs in today's
society.

First,
it provides for the respectful care of the deceased, by providing a special
tribute to a unique life. Equally important, the funeral service helps
survivors face the reality of death -- the first step in overcoming grief.
A
funeral brings together relatives and close friends who can lend support
and
comfort when needed most.

A funeral also gives friends and relatives the opportunity to express the
love and respect they feel for someone who was very important to them. Just
seeing how much others cared can be a tremendous help to a family adjusting
to their loss.

Providing For The Funeral

Traditionally, there have been three ways a family has provided for a
funeral.

Level Death Benefit Life Insurance - normally intended to
cover ongoing living expenses for the family - usually
requires waiting weeks or even months until proceeds are
available -
with inflation, proceeds may erode over time - may involve
disputes over contested claims.

Savings - often depleted by the costs of illnesses before
death - may be tied up in probate - may not be
accessible at the time of death - long-term savings may
be reduced by taxes and early withdrawal penalties.

Friends and Relatives places unexpected burden on those you care about
most - may put survivors in an uncomfortable and
embarrassing
situation - can cause friction between loved ones
-
borrowed money must be repaid.

Funeral Planning At Work

A
funeral plan eliminates your concerns by allowing you to plan and fund your
funeral before the need arises.

You put your plans in writing, so there will be no doubt about your
wishes.
Family and friends will never have to wonder if they have done the right
thing, if they might have forgotten anything, or if what they selected is
what you truly would have wanted.

Choosing The Payment Method For
You

There are a variety of ways that you can pay for your funeral plan. You
can
pay all at once, or over time.

It's All Taken Care Of

When
death occurs, one call to the funeral home is all that is needed to begin
the funeral process. Funeral directors at the Funeral Home will carry out
all the
arrangements per your wishes. Monies set aside for your funeral plan
will be paid directly to the funeral home.

Paying For Your Funeral In
Advance

Funeral planning has been designed to protect you and your family from
future price increases. Although the average funeral is priced lower today
than many people might assume, a funeral will almost surely cost more in
the
future. Therefore, if you are truly seeking peace of mind, it is important
that the funding method you choose provides adequate growth to offset
future
price increases.

Areas of Special Concern

No matter what funeral plans you make, it is important to keep good
records
and to be sure that loved ones know where records are kept.

Drawing Up A Will Is Important

Every adult should have a will, regardless of age or financial situation.
A
will is a legal document that can prevent many serious problems for those
you leave behind.

If you do not already have a will you should have one drawn up as soon as
possible. It is in your own and your family's best interests.

Keeping Accurate Records

For your family's sake, write down everything you think the executor of
your
estate will need to know to carry out your wishes.

Be sure to list all biographical and financial information,
including: